The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 40
Chapter 40
***
Immediately after the ceremony, I was ushered into a carriage and swiftly transported to the Grand Duke’s estate. Through the veil, I could see the Grand Duke’s maids bustling about, preparing for the wedding night.
Frustrated by the veil that had obscured my vision all day, I unconsciously lifted the edge. It was considered rude for a bride to lift her veil before her husband did.
I realized my mistake and started to lower my hand, but then I reconsidered. I was about to die; did the etiquette of the living truly matter? With this rebellious thought, I discreetly surveyed the Grand Duke’s mansion.
It was my first time in another person’s home, and everything fascinated me. I couldn’t help but compare it to the Count’s estate.
‘This house is enormous.’
The high ceilings, the grand staircase, the expansive hall—everything was on a grand scale. Perhaps it was necessary, considering the Grand Duke’s height. The Count’s estate had seemed large enough, but it paled in comparison.
Sculptures adorned the walls of the Grand Duke’s mansion, nestled within carved recesses. The walls without sculptures were decorated with bas-reliefs, painted in what looked like real gold.
Overwhelmed, I lowered my hand from the veil and stared at the floor. Even the carpet was impeccably clean and luxurious, shimmering with every reflection of light. Every detail exuded opulence.
‘People who live in a place like this would certainly reject someone like me.’
My plan to die today, rather than suffer a slow demise, seemed all the more sensible. I checked the small glass vial hidden within my undergarments. It was still there.
I prayed it would grant me a swift end. With each step, I worried about the vial being discovered or lost.
The maids led me to a room and immediately began their work.
Brides usually arrived with their personal maids, but I, having never been assigned one, arrived alone. I hadn’t expected anyone to accompany me, so it wasn’t surprising.
As I entered the new room, my suppressed curiosity resurfaced. I wasn’t usually this inquisitive, but they said a person’s personality could change when facing death.
Besides, the maids had temporarily removed my veil for bathing and dressing, giving me a glimpse of the room.
I cautiously looked around. This room, too, was overwhelmingly large. The first thing that caught my eye was the chandelier.
It was so large, I couldn’t count the number of candles. Why would a single room need such an extravagant, shimmering silver chandelier?
It was another testament to the Grand Duke’s wealth.
In fact, everything in the room was lavish. Even the chairs, meant for nothing more than sitting, were studded with what looked like real jewels.
Overwhelmed, I felt as if I might faint. The sheer opulence of the room made me frown, a feeling of near suffocation rising in my chest.
A maid began to unbind my elaborate hairstyle, preparing to help me undress. As her hands touched my hair, I snapped back to reality. This wasn’t the time to be distracted by a luxurious room.
‘What about the vial?’
I fretted internally. It seemed I would be constantly attended by the maids until I entered the bridal chamber, even for the bathing preparations.
‘That means I’ll only have a chance to drink it once I’m alone in there.’
The books I’d read always described the bride waiting in the chamber, composing herself, before the groom entered. Was it etiquette or simply custom?
I couldn’t quite recall. Regardless, that would be my only opportunity to be alone.
‘Perhaps it’s better to entrust it to the maids rather than try to hide it,’ I reasoned.
I could claim it was a special perfume from home, instructing them to keep it safe until nightfall, when I would apply it myself.
As the maids struggled to undo my intricately styled hair, their attention momentarily diverted, I discreetly retrieved the vial.
My voice, barely a whisper from the overwhelming pressure of the situation, addressed the maid. “This… this is a perfume I brought from home. It was in the carriage earlier. Could you keep it safe for me until tonight?”
“Of course, Madam.”
“Just keep it safe. I’ll apply it myself later.”
“Certainly, Madam.”
Madam. A title I’d only bear for a single day. I slumped, feigning exhaustion, avoiding eye contact with the maids. I wondered what sort of disdainful looks they held.
To them, the Grand Duke, regardless of his monstrous reputation, was their master, while I was nothing but a rumored simpleton with no magical abilities, an unsuitable match.
They must resent me.
‘They probably think this marriage is beneath him,’ I thought, bracing myself for their inevitable scorn.
“Madam, your hair is such a beautiful color. When I first saw you, I thought you were a fairy.”
“It’s no wonder the Grand Duke awaited you so eagerly.”
‘…What? Did I hear that correctly?’
